PREFACE. Vll 



once strongly called to the siibject, they cannot 

 fail to perceive that there is plenty for them 

 to do. 



The Author needs not to be told, for of that 

 he is quite conscious that his book is very de- 

 fective in arrangement, and faulty in style, but if 

 he have succeeded in the attempt to be tolerably 

 "plain and perspicuous," and "not very ungram- 

 matical," that is as much, perhaps, as ought to 

 be required of a practical man. 



One word is necessary here, with reference to 

 Sir H. Steuart, whos^e name, as a Planter, the 

 Author has mentioned at page 58. He wishes to 

 correct an impression which he may have pro- 

 duced, that the honourable Baronet is altogether 

 opposed to the practice of preparing the soil pre- 

 vious to planting. This is not the case ; but Sir 

 Henry, with singular inconsistency, after speaking 

 in the highest terms in favour of trenching, manu- 

 ring, &c, declares the practice to be inapplicable 



